Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-04-15
CHASING the Apaches

The campaign waged by Gen. Milo,
during the summer and autumn Of 1Sss
against the Apache Indians of Arizona
led by their chiefs, Geronimo, Matches
and Mangus, was not one of venpeancs
or vindictiveness. It was marked bv
very great bravery and admirable feats
of endurance on the part of tho
soldiers, but there was very little
bloodshed or cruelty.
Tho Indians had broken from their
reservation, and we're carrying fire and
sword through Southern Arizona
Southwestern New Mexico. and North.
ern Mexico. Lieutenant General Sheri.
dan, the Commander-in-chief of thu
army, had instructed Gen. Miles to
move against them. He directed Miles
that "the greatest are be taken to
prevent the spread of hostilities among
the friendly Indians in his command
and that the most vigorous operations,
looking to the destruction or capture Of
the hostiles, be ceaselesely carried on,n
Gen. Miles divided into districts the
whole hostile country, which is a
series of almost inaccessible mountain
ranges, crossed by deep canons and
gorges, and placed each district under
the command of 81 officer. Each de-
tachment had heliograph, or looking.
glass, signals, by means of which they
Communicated, flashing the suns rays
from mountain-top to mountain-top.
Whenever q band of hostile Indians
was discovered, the soldiers gave pur-
suit. In the chase which followed, the
Indians invariably had n advantage
over the soldiers. Riding their horses
as high up the ranges as they could 90,
they then abandoned the horses, crossed
the summit on foot, and stole fresh
horses in the valley below. The troops,
who could not steal horses, were obliged
to send their animals around the foot
of the mountains, and proceed on foot.
Lieut.. Brett's command went ct one
time twenty-six hours without halt, and
was without water eighteen hours in
the intense summer heat of Arizona.
Capt. Lawton's command, crossing into
Mexico, pursued the Indians continually
through the mountainous country Of
Sonora for nearly three months. He
followed them from one range Of
mountains to another, over peaks nine
thousand feet above the level of the
sea, and in the depths OF the canons,
where the heat in July and August was
of fearful intensity. A part of the
command was without rations five days.
three days being the longest continu-
GUS period. In these mountains it was
impossible to move the pack-trains.
Capt. Lawton hunted tho chief
Natchez down. Natchez was willing to
surrender to Gen. Miles, but not to
Lawton. So Lawton followed him
northward until Gen. Miles, camp was
reached. Geronimo had already sur.
rendered. Natchez hesitated, but he
saw the Photograph signnls flashing
across from m~ountain-top to mountain.
top as far as he could see, and then
made up his mind that it was useless
to attempt longer to evade the whites.
One after another of the scattered
hostile bands surrendered. Gen.
Miles says in his report: THE hostiles
fought until the bulk of their ammuni
ton WAS exhausted. Pursued for more
than two thousand miles over
the rugged and sterile districts of the
rocky Sierra Madre Mountain regions,
beneath the burning heat of midsum
>mer, until worn down md disheartened
they find no place of safety in on,
country or Mexico, and finally lay
down their arms and sue for mercy
Youths Companion.